Are you pulling your hair out trying to figure out what to put on the floor of your chicken run? Trust me, I’ve been there! After years of chicken keeping and plenty of muddy boots, I’ve learned that choosing the right flooring material isn’t just about convenience—it’s essential for your flock’s health and happiness.
In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through all the best options for chicken run flooring, their pros and cons, and how to choose what’s best for your specific situation Whether you’re a newbie setting up your first coop or a seasoned chicken keeper looking to improve your current setup, this article has you covered!
Why Your Chicken Run Floor Material Matters
Before diving into specific materials, let’s understand why your choice of flooring is so important:
- Health: Proper flooring prevents foot infections, respiratory issues, and parasites
- Sanitation: Good flooring reduces ammonia buildup and nasty smells
- Comfort: Chickens need surfaces they can comfortably walk on, scratch in, and dust bathe
- Drainage: Prevents mud and standing water, especially important in rainy areas
- Durability: Must withstand constant chicken traffic and weather conditions
- Pest control: The right flooring discourages rodents and insects
- Maintenance: Affects how much time you’ll spend cleaning
- Climate suitability: Different materials work better in different weather conditions
Taking time to choose the right flooring now will save you tons of headaches (and chicken health problems) later!
Top Chicken Run Flooring Options
Let’s explore the most popular chicken run flooring materials, with honest pros and cons for each:
1. Deep Litter Method
The deep litter method involves layering absorbent materials that compost in place
Materials used:
- Wood shavings
- Straw
- Dried leaves
- Sawdust
Pros:
- Provides natural insulation (great for cold climates!)
- Chickens LOVE scratching through it
- Composts waste naturally
- Creates valuable garden compost
- Encourages natural foraging behavior
- Reduces odor when managed properly
Cons:
- Requires regular maintenance to prevent dampness
- Can attract pests if not managed well
- Needs turning and fresh material added regularly
- Can become compacted over time
- Higher risk of parasites if not maintained
Best for: Cold climates and chicken keepers who don’t mind some regular maintenance. It’s also perfect if you have a garden that could benefit from the compost.
2. Sand
Sand has become increasingly popular among chicken keepers.
Types used:
- Coarse builders sand (preferred)
- Play sand
Pros:
- Excellent drainage properties
- Super easy to clean droppings (just like a cat litter box!)
- Provides a natural scratching surface
- Dries quickly after rain
- Great for dust bathing
- Doesn’t decompose or need frequent replacement
- Relatively inexpensive for the longevity
Cons:
- Can become dusty in very dry conditions
- Needs replenishing over time
- Doesn’t add nutrients back to soil
- Can work into mud if layer is too thin
- Can be tracked around on shoes/boots
Best for: Dry or moderate climates with good drainage; those wanting a low-maintenance option.
3. Wood Chips/Shavings
Wood products provide a natural and comfortable surface.
Types used:
- Pine shavings (preferred)
- Hardwood chips
- AVOID cedar (toxic to chickens!)
Pros:
- Highly absorbent
- Comfortable footing for chickens
- Moderate cost
- Clean, light appearance
- Free drainage
- Almost dust-free
- Chickens enjoy scratching in them
- Break down naturally over time
Cons:
- Compact over time and need refreshing
- Higher maintenance than sand
- Can attract pests if not maintained
- Need to be turned occasionally to prevent mold
Best for: Any climate; chicken keepers who prefer natural materials and don’t mind some regular maintenance.
4. Pea Gravel/Crushed Stone
Stone materials provide excellent drainage but have some drawbacks.
Types used:
- Pea gravel
- Crushed granite
- Crushed limestone
Pros:
- Excellent drainage
- Very long-lasting
- Easy to spot clean between stones
- Predators can’t dig through it easily
- Never decomposes
- Doesn’t attract pests
Cons:
- Can be uncomfortable for chickens’ feet
- Provides no insulation in cold weather
- Droppings can fall between stones and build up
- Stones can harbor waste if not cleaned
- More expensive upfront
Best for: Hot, dry climates with drainage issues; high-traffic areas of the run.
5. Concrete
While not ideal for the entire run, concrete has specific advantages.
Pros:
- Very easy to clean and disinfect
- Completely prevents predators from digging in
- Extremely durable
- No mud ever!
Cons:
- Expensive to install
- Lacks drainage unless properly sloped
- Uncomfortable and unnatural for chickens
- Cold in winter, hot in summer
- Requires bedding on top for chicken comfort
Best for: Commercial operations or small areas of the run where cleanliness is paramount.
6. Dirt/Compacted Earth
The most natural and cheapest option.
Pros:
- Free!
- Natural environment for chickens
- Allows natural foraging behavior
Cons:
- Quickly turns to mud in rainy weather
- Nearly impossible to keep clean
- Higher parasite risk
- Predators can dig through easily
- Requires constant maintenance
Best for: Temporary runs or in very dry climates.
Climate Considerations for Chicken Run Flooring
Your local climate should heavily influence your flooring choice:
Rainy Climates (Pacific Northwest, etc.)
- Prioritize drainage with sand or gravel base layers
- Consider a partially covered run to keep some areas dry
- Avoid materials that hold moisture like straw in uncovered areas
- Wood chips can work well with proper drainage underneath
Hot, Dry Climates
- Sand works excellently and provides cool dust bathing areas
- Consider misting sand occasionally to reduce dust
- Provide shaded areas with cooler flooring
Cold Climates
- Deep litter method provides crucial insulation
- Maintain at least 3-4 inches of litter depth in winter
- Add flat stones for chickens to stand on to avoid frozen feet
Seasonal Adjustments
For those in variable climates, consider seasonal changes:
- Winter: Add deeper bedding for insulation
- Summer: Switch to sand for better drainage during rainy seasons
- Fall: Incorporate fallen leaves into deep litter
- Spring: Deep clean and replace as needed after winter
My Personal Experience: Combination Approach
After trying several options, I’ve found that a combination approach works best for my flock. Here’s what I do:
- Base layer of pea gravel in high-traffic areas for drainage
- Sand in dust bathing zones and areas that get full sun
- Deep litter method in covered portions of the run
- Wood chips in transitional areas
This combo gives my chickens different textures to explore while making maintenance manageable for me. I adjust the materials seasonally based on weather conditions.
Essential Maintenance Tips
Regardless of what flooring you choose, proper maintenance is crucial:
- Remove droppings and wet spots regularly
- Add fresh material as needed
- Turn/aerate deep litter weekly with a rake or pitchfork
- Level any low spots that collect water
- Deep clean entire run 1-2 times per year
- Consider adding food-grade diatomaceous earth for pest control
- Isolate sick chickens immediately to prevent disease spread
- Compost old litter safely before using in gardens
Predator Protection Considerations
Don’t forget about protecting your flock from below:
- Bury hardware cloth at least 12-18 inches around the perimeter
- Consider an outward-facing apron of hardware cloth
- With dirt floors, check regularly for signs of digging
- Concrete provides best protection but needs comfort layer
FAQs About Chicken Run Flooring
Q: Can I just leave my chicken run as bare dirt?
A: You can, but be prepared for mud during rainy periods and more frequent parasite issues. It’s the most natural option but requires more management.
Q: How often should I clean my chicken run floor?
A: It depends on your flooring choice. Sand might need raking every few days, while deep litter might only need a complete change 1-2 times per year. Daily spot cleaning is always a good practice.
Q: Is it OK to mix different flooring materials?
A: Absolutely! I’ve found that using different materials in different areas of the run works wonderfully.
Q: What’s the most budget-friendly option?
A: Dirt is free but high-maintenance. For a balance of cost and practicality, wood chips or a deep litter approach using leaves and yard waste can be very economical.
Q: Will my chickens have a preference?
A: Chickens typically enjoy scratching in loose materials like wood chips and love dust bathing in sand. Watch your flock’s behavior to see what they prefer!
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for chicken run flooring. The “perfect” option depends on your specific climate, number of chickens, available time for maintenance, and budget constraints.
For beginners, I recommend starting with wood chips in most of the run and a dedicated sand area for dust bathing. This combination is relatively low-maintenance while providing chickens with surfaces they enjoy.
Remember that whatever material you choose, good drainage is the key to success. A properly designed and maintained chicken run floor will keep your flock healthy, happy, and thriving for years to come!
Have you tried any of these flooring options? What worked best for your flock? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
Chicken run flooring options
There are a few options when choosing suitable flooring for a chicken run. For example, if the run is on a lawn and portable, it can be moved around the garden allowing the grass to recover in worn areas. A run that remains in one position, or where there is no lawn, may become a bit of a quagmire after some rain. This makes it difficult to clean and leaves chickens with very muddy feet and legs. Here are a few of the options that are widely used:
- Sand
- Wood Chippings
- Pea Gravel
- Wood Shavings
Coarse sand is relatively inexpensive and droppings are easy to clean from it, most simply by using a cat litter scoop if you have a relatively small area. Some of the sand can wash away, or get into the soil below, unless contained, but as the sand disperses it can be topped up. Many chicken keepers see sand as an easy option and rake the droppings into the sand rather than ‘poop scoop’ so that they break down over time. They then they remove the top layer every six months and top it up.
However, as the climate changes and the UK experiences heavier or more frequent rain showers, some keepers complain that in uncovered runs sand works into the mud too easily if a thin layer is used. It is also easily dragged around on wet shoes or wellies, so the use of sand has some keepers a little divided.
Wood chippings become increasingly popular due the clean, light appearance, free drainage, being almost dust-free and most importantly, chickens love to scratch around in them!
Soft and hard wood chippings – or play chips as they are sometimes known – are easily cleaned and not quickly trampled into the mud. One of the key reasons they are used in animal enclosures and hen runs is that they are excellent at preventing muddy feet.
Wood chips are natural and will eventually break down over a long period of time, so just need a top up once or twice a year depending upon the depth they’ve been laid. If the chicken run is relocated the chippings can simply be dug into the soil (if the chippings are not being moved too) as they will break down over time and provide nutrients to the soil.
The chippings are produced using the white wood of trees and shouldn’t be confused with bark chips; bark chippings or mulch should never be used in runs or enclosures as it can go mouldy and produce spores which can lead to respiratory illness in chickens. It is advisable to rake or turn wood chips from time to time, especially in damp areas, to avoid the potential for mould development.
A rounded gravel such as pea gravel can be used, but using a weed membrane underneath is not recommended. Droppings will be washed through to the bottom by the rain or trampled in which can become quite smelly; it is far better to allow water free drainage through to the soil below.
Some chicken-keepers believe that their chickens don’t like walking on pea gravel, but it is a longer lasting option to wood products – especially if there are no plans to reposition the run.